Category Archives: love

60 years of marcus lee

This past weekend we went up to visit my parents to celebrate my birthday, Mother’s Day, and my dad’s 60th birthday. (60!!) So everyone (except for my dad) knew about the birthday gift I had been cooking up (AKA slaving over for months), and I couldn’t wait to show him. I wanted to really commemorate the past 60 years of his life and since he has always loved photography, I made him a little photo book through Pinhole Press. I sneakily took a bunch of old photos from him when I was up there to visit around the beginning of the year, which if you know him at all you know how organized he is so taking these without him noticing was a feat in itself.

When I finally gave it to him we all watched as he flipped through it reminiscing over each photo. When he finished he told me it was the best gift he had ever received. Here are a few of my favorite pages.

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photo 2 (1)

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photo 2 (2) photo 3 (2) photo 4 (1)
photo 5 (1) photo 5 (2) The book I chose was 8″ x 10″ hardback book that was hand-bound and wrapped in red linen cloth, and held 98 photos. I was I was a little nervous about the quality of the book because I’ve been disappointed in the past by other photo books I’ve made from other companies, but I heard really great things about Pinhole Press, and when I received it I was totally blown away. I wish these photos really captured the quality and tooth of the paper. Simply perfect. I truly think this will be something we will all look back at over time and our children will get to enjoy one day. I think this is just such a wonderful keepsake, and I plan to make one with all of our wedding photos soon. Happy Birthday Daddy :)

It’s the Girl’s Birthday!!

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CatharineDerek_000

Today is May 15th. 27 years ago Catharine Stevens was born to a loving family who gave her a great home and endless love. Six months ago she married me (the boy) and changed my life forever. I think her parents did an amazing job raising her and I’m lucky to share in her life. I’m so glad we were able to find each other so soon in life because we have so much to look forward to together.

Please join me in wishing the Girl a very Happy Birthday!

congratulations are in order

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Dear Husband,

Remember two+ years ago when you thought graduate school was never going to end? And we wondered how on earth we were going to get through it together with everything going on in our lives? That first semester, I was in the process of getting licensed so I was studying too which meant I was out of your hair. Good timing right? But then those next three semesters I wasn’t as busy so I was worried that I was going to bug you too much when you needed to be working on studio. But then you solved that problem and asked me to marry you. Good thinking! Then I spent that next year planning a wedding and leaving you alone (for the most part). Can you believe we actually got married the week of your finals. Who does that? I think it made our trip to Rome all the more relaxing though knowing you didn’t have to go back to school for a couple of weeks. But then I thought, “wait there is one more semester, how am I not going to drive him crazy?” But then we moved and got a puppy and I’ve been totally distracted with house projects and cuddle fests. See? You always thank me for supporting you for these past two years, but really you’re just the master of distraction.

Anyway, I am so so so proud of you for getting your Masters in Architecture (and for being offered a full-time position with the firm), and I’m so excited to finally live our lives as newlyweds without having to worry about homework or you spending all night in the studio while having to work the next morning. Here’s to trips to the dog park, aimless window shopping at La Cantera, weekend getaways, and cappuccinos every Saturday morning at our favorite spot. I love you, and now whenever we have to make stupid decisions (like where to eat for dinner or what movie to see) you have to decide because you are officially more qualified ;)

Your Wife

* * * *

In honor of tonight’s graduation ceremony, I made Derek a little celebratory cake. Also known as the cake that took all day. It was totally worth it though to see the look on his face.

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Why yes, that is an ostrich on top in lieu of a roadrunner because let’s face it. They don’t really make toy roadrunners. Or at least ones I could pick up at Michael’s on short notice. His first words were “what’s with the ostrich?” but then died laughing when I explained.

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I made the layers orange and blue for his alma mater. The blue layer was actually a blue velvet cake, while the orange was vanilla. Screen Shot 2013-05-12 at 8.25.38 PM

It was a big hit! And considering it’s two cakes combined, we’ll be feasting on this sucker for a while, which works out considering Wednesday is MY birthday! Weeee!

PS: Here is the recipe for vanilla layer (and frosting), and here is the recipe for the blue velvet layer

a little roman souvenir (and no mom it’s not a baby!)

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This past weekend while doing a little cleaning I came across a very familiar little pouch covered in Italian words.

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Inside it was filled with little souvenirs we had picked up on our honeymoon. Lots of postcards that never got mailed out (oops) and this beautiful lithograph we picked up (along with a bunch of large prints we will get to later) at the cutest little bookstore I’ve ever seen. The shop owner didn’t speak a bit of English (and just might have charged my credit card twice) but we spent a couple hours with him looking at all of his beautiful prints and drawings and old Italian advertisement posters. It was a dream.

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I already had just the frame for it, but the color was an awkward burgundy and it wouldn’t look right on our freshly painted bedroom walls (what?? I know. I forgot to tell you.)

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So I primed it with my favorite primer, and then painted it with one coat of metallic gold. Ohh la la!

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I just love how it floats against our new moody walls (we went with Benjamin Moore’s Iron Mountain, which was the same as the color in the bathroom). All in all this frame revamping took me about an hour (with dry time) and I’m quite pleased with the results. I had to restrain myself though because whenever I have that can of metallic gold spray paint in my hand, nothing is safe.

PS: Don’t forget to enter our fabulous giveaway this week! It ends Sunday night!

vintage stamps are for sale (again!)

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As of today, I have officially started taking orders again for vintage stamps. After you guys cleaned me out in less than 48 hours a few months ago it took me a while to play catch up, but I’m back in business again.

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Vintage stamps can still be used as standard postage today, as long as all of the denominations add up to the standard postage rate. They are all “face value” meaning that whatever number is written on them that’s what they’re worth (ie: .6 cents = .6 cents), and I have several colors, themes, shapes and sizes.

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The going postage rate for a standard letter right now is .46cents and for an oversize (or square) letter (like wedding invitations) is .66cents. So I’ll be selling them in packs of .46cent sets and .66cent sets so that you will have the exact amount you need for each of your letters. Basically if you buy 10 packs this means you have enough stamps sorted for you to mail 10 letters. Got it?

So after choosing your quantity you can then specify if you simply want a mix of stamps (totally random themes, shapes, sizes, etc.)

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or to follow a certain color palette like red:

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or to follow a theme like botanicals/nature:

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Or if you want your bundle to be small with only a couple stamps with high denominations:

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Or large with several stamps using small denominations:

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The choice is yours! I’m charging $1.00 per set of standard .46cent packs and $1.50 per set of oversized .66cent packs. Why am I charging more than their worth? Call it a labor fee. I did sit down for hours to hand pick each and every one of these stamps, none of them are random they are all stamps that I have chosen due to their colors, images, sizes, etc. So you won’t be getting a bunch of American flags and doves (unless you want them?). Any stamp you see pictured above I own, and to see more of my collection go here (which only shows you about 5% of what I have.. I’ve also added a TON of Christmas themed ones for your next Christmas cards). To see more ideas on how to use vintage stamps with your letters go here.

OVERSIZED POSTAGE

If you’d like to request a quantity that is different than what’s provided in the drop down list, please email me or leave me a comment with your exact order, and I will send you an invoice through Paypal. Each set of stamps will be sent to you in small glassine envelopes to keep them sorted. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask!